Shift workers harming themselves?

Editors of journal warn of occupational health hazard

Published: 12/29/2011 at 11:03 PM

(MEDICALNEWSTODAY) — The editors of a leading journal suggest that the poor diet of shift workers should be considered an occupational health hazard.

They argue that working patterns should be treated as a specific risk factor for obesity and type 2 diabetes, which have reached epidemic proportions in the developed world, with the developing world not far behind.

With reference to studies published in earlier issues of the journal, that show links between increased risk in type 2 diabetes and shift work patterns in American nurses, Dr. Virginia Barbour, chief editor of the journal PLoS Medicine and her fellow editors make a case in this month’s edition for classing unhealthy eating as a new form of occupational hazard, especially in those workplaces that employ shift workers, whose easy access to junk food compared to healthier options just makes it harder to keep to a good diet.